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India, New Zealand on Collision Course For Final

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With both exploding out of the blocks to start the tournament, are India on a collision course with New Zealand for the 2015 Cricket World Cup final?

A jubilant New Zealand are thriving on home soil. Image: Getty Images / Ryan Pierse

While six games in the pool stage give you plenty of time to indent a mark on the global cricketing show-piece, India and New Zealand have not hesitated to make statements from the outset - and loud ones in that.As both the co-hosts and reigning champions ride a searing wave of momentum, accumulating a one-hundred percent record, they look unstoppable - could the only ending to that be the meeting of each other?Considering they're situated in different pools, the answer to that will come when the cricket has really picked up a full head of steam. But, as both continue to fly past opposition and prove they are credible cricketers, it may not be quarter-finals or semi-finals. Instead it's reserved for the splendour and spectacle that is the Cricket World Cup final.Both are favourites to top their respective groups, they made it clear from the early goings of the tournament. With the bracket for the knockout phase of the tournament, New Zealand finishing atop Pool A's pecking order (A1) and India following suit for Pool B (B1), they are on a collision course for the final game:

Graphic: Wikipedia

In the cricket they'v played so far, the Kiwis have demonstrated a strong implementation of both bowling and batting. On the crease, the co-hosts upheld a solid display in the opener against Sri Lanka, with Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill slogging them to an opening that pushed it out of Lankans' reach. All-rounder Corey Anderson continues to step up also, while posting 75 runs and taking 2 wickets in their opening game victory. India, meanwhile, made all the noise by dispatching their crumbling rivals Pakistan in Adelaide - with Virat Kohli's huge century the cornerstone of that.Opening games set the bar, and these sides sure met it, if not exceeded. Not only have they convincingly dispatched the rest of their opposition, but also their biggest tests which may have restricted us from pondering the questions.Before that though, Brendon McCullum etched his name among the best as he torched England. Scoring the fastest half-century in World Cup history, he showed once more what he can do with the bat and that should surely help them over the line.But New Zealand's skipper wasn't all occupied on that scene. With a career-best haul of 7 wickets for just 33 runs, Tim Southee obliterated the Three Lions that same day - just showing a snippet of how deadly they can be when they're in full gear. The worry for their opposition is that they're scary enough.

Two successive titles for the Men in Blue? Image: ICC-Cricket.com

As for the Indians, many thought that the absences and omissions of some veterans would remove key pieces of their veteran leadership - however they have clearly taken to the task at hand sublimely.Kohli powered India ahead with a century as they bludgeoned their rivals by 76 runs, before they really took flight a week later against the feared South Africans. With AB de Villiers throwing a lot of the fuel into the fire, they were among some favourites, and still are, but India indeed climbed above them with their performance.This time round, the Africans fell at the hands of India's bowling attack - just like New Zealand, they're favourable on both aspects. India produced a stellar 307 after their opening innings, while South Africa were halted and were finished after 40 overs for 177 all out, with Ashwin going 41-3 as they tore apart the strong cross-continental opponents.New Zealand continued to thrive as well, showing great character to win by just a wicket in a huge meeting with fellow co-hosts Australia. Toppling the Australians was the vital win that shall give them the initiative in terms of leading from the front in their group.

A preview of the final?

One thing that doesn't particularly bode well for Mike Hesson's side is that they've never really got there. They have had their brighter starts—many that could reminisce to this—but their best finishes have all amounted in semi-final exits, including the last two World Cups (in 2007 and 2011). Their endurance will be the concern.But, a side that looks fresh while also carrying it's capabilities has the capacity to go all the way. At this rate, they could just power to their best finish of the final. With all-wins to start things, they are in a commanding position to begin the insertion of the framework for the quarter and semi-finals, that's before they begin to think about looking at India.Seasoned and ready, India showed exactly why they are the reigning Champions by picking up the pieces in spite of a torrid run-up to the cricket extravaganza. MS Dhoni's leadership remains strong to carry the Men in Blue, Virat Kohli is living up to his huge potential, this side is looking really strong too. Maybe the only kryptonite for both is, each other.Double World Cup winning Aussie Brad Hogg, according to Cricket.com.au believes this too: "...And I think India and maybe New Zealand might get there (to the final). I really want Australia to win, but you just have those gut feelings that something is going to happen." Those gut feelings are all too justified with both sides going from strength to strength.India's quest for back-to-back Championships meets New Zealand's burning desire to really step up to the elite. In their home nation, all eyes will be fixed on the clash of these somewhat leviathans that have developed in the tournament.Can both sides keep this going? If they do, then it's almost a certainty that New Zealand and England will battle it out for the biggest prize in the sport.